John townsend trench



(Nb Model.)

J. T. TRBNGH. ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

Patented May' 22, 1894.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH, OF DUBLIN, IRELAND.

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part 0f Letters Patent N0. 520,094, dated May 22, 1894.

Application filed December 4,1893. Serial No. 492,679. (No model.) Patented in England September 8, 1893, No. 16,729.

To @ZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOHN TowNsEND TRENCH, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Dublin, in the county of Dublin, Ireland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Adjustable Spanners or Wrenches, (for which I have obtained a patent in Great Britain No. 16,729, bearingl date the Sth of September, 1893,) of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to adjustable spanners or wrenches, and it consists essentially of a grip lever pivoted to the adjustable jaw and adapted to engage with the shank carrying the fixed jaw, the object being to facilitate the adjustment of the movable jaw of a spanner or Wrench in a more ready and etticient manner than is at present known. I attain this end in the manner shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a view in elevation of my improved adjustable spanner or wrench with the gripping lever closed to lock the adjustable jaw to the shank carrying the fixed jaw, and Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the gripping lever open. Fig. 3 is a view in back elevation of the said Spanner or wrench. Fig. 4 is a broken view in cross section on line -fv, Fig. 2, and Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are broken views in elevation showing another form my invention may assume.

Similar parts are marked with like letters of reference throughout the several Views.

The fixed jaw A of the Spanner or wrench is formed on or attached to a shank B which is made of a rectangular shape in cross section with parallel faces for the adjustable jaw to slide on. The adjustable jaw A is slotted to adapt it to slide on the shank B and it has in the under side of its front part arecess a in which is pivoted a gripping lever C, the gripping face c of which is toothed or serrated to engage with similar teeth or serrations on the adjacent face b of the shank B. These teeth or serrations are 'very line so as to give the greatest possible nicety of adjustment. The lever C has a suitably shaped handle C', and the shank B carrying the fixed jaw A has an extension forming a handle B. To prevent the front edge of the slot in the adjustable jaw A from catching in the teeth or serrations on the face b of the shank B, a small guide piece a2 is screwed or otherwise fixed to the inner side of the slot in the adjustable jaw A' to engage with one side of a slot or recess b formed in the shank B and so keep the front edge of the slot clear of the teeth or serrations on the face b of the shank B, as shown more clearly by Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings. As a modification of this construction the lever O may be pivoted to an extension A2 on the back of the adjustable jaw A as shown by Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the handles B and C being shaped accordingly, which construction leaves the jaws clear and thus makes the Spanner or Wrench more handy for use in confined spaces. The gripping face c of the, lever C may be either slightly curved as shown by Figs. 1 and 2, or liat as shown by Figs. 5 and 6.

To adjust the jaw A of the Spanner or wrench the gripping face c of the lever C is first disengaged from the adjacent face b on the shank B, and then the said jaw is moved on the said shank until the nut or bolt is gripped between it and the fixed jaw. The handles C and Bof the grippinglever C and the shank B respectively are then clasped by the hand bringing the teeth or serrations on the locking face c of the lever C into contact and engagement with the teeth or serrations on the face b of the shank B thereby firmly interlockingV the one with the other. I prefer to shape the back end of the fixed jaw A to form a hammer, and also to form a projection a on the top part of the said jaw to form a turn-screw. I also utilize the ends of the handles B and C by forming holes D in them to t small nuts or screw heads.

I Wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I am aware that the adjustable jaws of adj ustable spanners and wrenches have been locked to the shanks carrying the fixed jaws of such spanners and wrenches by means of cam levers and I do not therefore claim such as my invention, but

provided with means for retaining its parallel motion thereon and prevent the Yfront edge of its slot coming in contact with the teeth or serrations on the edge of the shank, of a gripping lever pivoted to the adjustable jaw and having a suitable handle, the gripping facel of the said lever having teeth or serrations to engage with the teeth or serrations on Vthe adjacent face of the shank Vcarrying the lixed jaw, as'and for the purpose set forth.

2. Inan adjustable Spanner or wrench, the combination of a shank carrying a suitably'j shaped jaw at one end and a handle at the other end and having teeth or serratious formed on one of its edges, of an adjustable jaw vhaving a rear extension and adapted toslide on the said shank and provided with means for retaining its parallel motion there-- on and prevent the front edge of its slot eom.y ing in contact with the teeth 0r serrations ou the'edge ofY the shank, of a gripping lever: pivoted to the rear extension of the adjust-l able jaw and having'a suitable handle, the

gripping face of the said lever having teeth Yor serrations to engage with the teeth or serrations on the adjacent face of the shank carrying the fixed jaw, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an adjustable Spanner or wrench, the combination of the shank B carryingY the fixed jaw A at one end and arhandle B at the other end, and having teeth-or serrations a formed on one of its faces b; of the turn screw a formed on or xed tothe jaw A; of the ad- 'f justable jaw AYadapted to slide on the shank B and guided to retain its parallel motion thereon and prevent the front edge of its slot 45 coming in contact with the teeth or serrations on the face b of the shank by means o( the guide piece a2 fixed to the adjustable jaw A and adapted to :engage with oneY side of the slot b in the'shank B; of the gripping 5o A lever U pivoted tothe adjustable jaw A and having a suitable handle C', the gripping face c of the said lever having 'teeth or serrations to engage Ywith the teeth or serrations on the face b of the shank'B; and oftheholes 55 i D in the ends of the handles B' and C, all combined, arranged and operating as and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH. Witnesses:

ROBERT B. GossET, J. N. WHITAKER. 

